Daily Word

The Word of God is here likened to a sharp, two-edged sword that is living and active, penetrating every part of our being to divide things.

Why is this so important?

Anything that hinders the Holy Spirit from freely flowing through our entire being like “rivers of living water” must be removed, so that we can live the normal Christian life, the life of the Spirit, the life of Christ.

The first obstacle lies in our soul.

If we are dominated and controlled by our natural feelings and our own intellect, this will constantly hinder the Spirit from working freely. Nor should our obstinate self-will stand in the way.

It is our spirit, imbued with the Holy Spirit, which is to dominate and govern us.

Therefore, everything in our body, its instincts and our carnal desires, also needs to be separated from their strong influence over our natural life. This is the meaning of penetrating and separating “joints and marrow”.

Then comes the most important thing of all: the judgment of “the intentions and thoughts of the heart.”

This concerns the deep inner affections that govern our way of reasoning as well as our established opinions, attitudes and purposes. In other words, everything that characterizes our self-life.

All of this: the soulish, the carnal and our entire self-life must receive its death sentence!

This is what verse 13 is about: the word “naked” means that everything is completely disclosed, and the words “laid bare” means to lie on your back with your throat exposed to receive the death blow.

When that has happened, the old man is completely exposed and exterminated.

Then the Lordship of Christ can be fully established in our lives and the Holy Spirit is given free rein to manifest the new man in us: the Christ-man.

Has the sword been allowed to do that work in your life?